StillSmart Home distillation made easy! 2014-02-18T20:22:59+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/feed.php?f=12&t=2905 2014-02-18T20:22:59+00:00 2014-02-18T20:22:59+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2905&p=18595#p18595 <![CDATA[Re: T500 Full Reflux]]>
I'm really not interested in recycling anything from the still. If it comes in at under £2 per litre of shop strength, as far as I'm concerned it's good enough value. (At present it's <£1.50 per litre.)

I get the theory of dissolving the sugar in 25L of hot water but I find it much easier with just 8L of freshly boiled water as I can get my arm into the fermenter without getting my arm wet.

Whichever way we do it, if it suits, it's golden.

Statistics: Posted by John51 — Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:22 pm


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2014-02-18T08:54:22+00:00 2014-02-18T08:54:22+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2905&p=18593#p18593 <![CDATA[Re: T500 Full Reflux]]> Statistics: Posted by Luckyshot — Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:54 am


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2014-02-17T19:21:21+00:00 2014-02-17T19:21:21+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2905&p=18585#p18585 <![CDATA[Re: T500 Full Reflux]]>
Only thing that goes down the drain is any tails left in the boiler, that I don't collect as they are really unpleasant and stinky.

Statistics: Posted by Capt-Cudellez — Mon Feb 17, 2014 7:21 pm


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2014-02-17T18:52:08+00:00 2014-02-17T18:52:08+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2905&p=18584#p18584 <![CDATA[Re: T500 Full Reflux]]>
Let it air for 24 hours then smell, water down and taste,if its OK into the
demijohn and water down to 40%.I think in future I will water down to 45%

I filter through a Essencia.

Statistics: Posted by Luckyshot — Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:52 pm


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2014-02-17T18:14:32+00:00 2014-02-17T18:14:32+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2905&p=18582#p18582 <![CDATA[Re: T500 Full Reflux]]>
If so there is no point doing the 100% reflux step, as it's intended to help concentrate the heads into a small portion and increase the hearts portion.

If you are making cuts then I would remove the heads more slowly than the hearts - so dial in a lower temp to begin with, then increase as you approach the hearts.

Statistics: Posted by Capt-Cudellez — Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:14 pm


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2014-02-17T15:54:21+00:00 2014-02-17T15:54:21+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2905&p=18580#p18580 <![CDATA[Re: T500 Full Reflux]]>

However I'm getting old enough that shaking 25l of water is getting a bit of a strain so I might get a long drill-powered whisk to do the work.

Statistics: Posted by Voddy — Mon Feb 17, 2014 3:54 pm


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2014-02-17T15:48:26+00:00 2014-02-17T15:48:26+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2905&p=18579#p18579 <![CDATA[Re: T500 Full Reflux]]>
What I do is prepare a wash while the boiler heats up. Main reason being that this routine means I don't fall behind on making up a wash. No more 'I'll do it tomorrow' syndrome.

Then it's fill the kettle for a brew later plus drinking water in bottles and then start the cooling water.

Takes about 75/85 minutes for the top of the column to get hot. Slight change in noise from the still when it gets there. 15/20 minutes after that I lower the water flow to start getting the fores/heads.

Statistics: Posted by John51 — Mon Feb 17, 2014 3:48 pm


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2014-02-17T14:30:46+00:00 2014-02-17T14:30:46+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2905&p=18573#p18573 <![CDATA[T500 Full Reflux]]>
I have read on this forum that its a good idea to let the still run in full reflux for about 15 - 20 mins. Would that mean turning on the cooling water and keeping the temp low so that the still does not produce and then after 15min or so adjust the temp that suits you say 55c and then run as normal.

Statistics: Posted by Luckyshot — Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:30 pm


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